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The Willing Suspension of Disbelief
by Linda Larsen, CSP
© Copyright 2000

Recently I attended a "Mad Hatter's Tea Party" fundraiser for a local social service agency in our town. My amazingly talented meteorologist husband is also an amateur magician and, as such, had volunteered to do a magic show for the children. So while the "grown ups" took a brief break, about 35 excited little children all sat around on blankets at the feet of the magician. I decided that I wanted to see things from their perspective, so I sat on the blankets with them.

As I sat on the ground surrounded by these wide-eyed, giggling children I suddenly remembered a class in college called Theater Arts in which we learned a term called "the willing suspension of disbelief." It had to do with what happens to people when they go to a play or a movie. Upon entering the theater they, in effect, agree to suspend their disbelief. In essence they say, "OK, I'm going to buy into all this as if it were real for the period of the show." Then, the curtain goes up - and the members of the audience are transported.

That was exactly what these children were doing - but I realized one startling difference between the adults and the kids. The kids didn't set aside "x" period of time to suspend their disbelief. For them, the witnessing of this magic act was simply an extension of how they live their lives!

They (we) were not born disbelieving. We were born as an exquisite, rich, full potential - simply waiting to be explored and realized. We learned to disbelieve. We learned to doubt ourselves, our abilities and our talents. We learned to mistrust others and their intentions. And because of that, we have locked much of our potential away somewhere safe. So safe, in fact, that we forgot where we put it.

But look at this. 98% of all children at age 5 test out highly creative. At age 44 the number drops to about 2%. As children we laugh more, take more risks, give unabashedly, and have high self-esteem. The older we get, the more we shut down, pull back and play it safe. And any highly effective person on this planet will tell you that if we are going to create a life that is fun, successful and replete with healthy, loving, mutually supportive relationships, then we MUST be willing to step out of our comfort zone, and take risks. In other words, we must suspend our disbelief in ourselves and others.

So, here's your mission. Make a conscious choice to suspend your disbelieves about yourself. When you hear that little voice that says, "Oh I can't do that" or "I'll look stupid if I do this" or even "that's not possible," simply stop yourself and make a new choice. CHOOSE to release that disbelief.

Hey, if you can do it for Star Wars - you can do it for yourself!

Word count: 500

Tag line: Linda Larsen, CSP, helps individuals think strategically, communicate effectively, and celebrate success. She is an international keynote speaker, trial consultant and author of the book, True Power, and the best selling audio program, 12 Secrets to High Self-Esteem. She can be reached at www.lindalarsen.com or 941-927-4700.

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